ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (February 22, 2023) – The World Golf Hall of Fame released the names of 12 finalists who will be considered for induction in 2024. Final selections for the 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Class will be announced the week of March 6, 2023.
Before gaining consideration, each finalist met the necessary qualifications in his or her respective category by way of on-course accomplishments or significant contributions to the game of golf. The finalists include Padraig Harrington, Tom Weiskopf, Johnny Farrell, Jim Furyk, Dottie Pepper, Sandra Palmer, Beverly Hanson, Cristie Kerr, Peter Dawson, Butch Harmon, Jay Sigel and the seven remaining co-founders of the LPGA: Alice Bauer, Bettye Danoff, Helen Detweiler, Helen Hicks, Opal Hill, Shirley Spork and Sally Sessions.
Below is a brief bio for each finalist.
The finalists were selected by a Nominating Committee comprised of select Hall of Fame members, media, World Golf Foundation Board organizations, and at-large selections. Additionally, all living Hall of Fame members were sent ballots and had the opportunity to vote for nominees.
“The Nominating Committee has selected finalists who represent the highest caliber of competitors and contributors,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of World Golf Hall of Fame. “Congratulations to all who have been nominated for this special recognition.”
These 12 finalists will be considered for admission into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Class of 2024 by a 20-member Selection Committee, comprised of Hall of Fame members, media representatives and leaders of the major golf organizations. They will be tasked with reviewing the merits and qualifications of each finalist and ultimately selecting the Class of 2024.
The 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on Monday, June 10, 2024 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C. coinciding with the 124th U.S. Open Championship and the Hall of Fame Museum’s opening on the United States Golf Association’s (“USGA”) Golf House Pinehurst campus next year. In July 2022, the World Golf Hall of Fame and USGA announced plans to create a new visitor experience for the Hall of Fame in the historic golf community.
About the World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame celebrates and honors the legacies of those who have made golf great. The Hall of Fame opened in 1974 in Pinehurst, North Carolina, where 71 members were inducted prior to the transition (in 1998) to its current Florida location, which now recognizes 164 total members. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Hall of Fame partners with 26 national and international golf organizations, including the DP World Tour, LPGA, The Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA. To learn more, visit www.worldgolfhalloffame.org.
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2024 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Finalist Bios
Padraig Harrington
Country: Ireland
Born: August 31, 1971
Category: Male Competitor
Official Victories: 21 (15 on European Tour)
Majors/THE PLAYERS:
- 2007 The Open Championship
- 2008 The Open Championship
2008 PGA Championship
Additional Career Highlights:
- Ryder Cup: 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2020 (Captain)
Major Awards:
- European Tour Order of Merit: 2006
- European Tour Golfer of the Year: 2007, 2008
- PGA Player of the Year: 2008
- PGA TOUR Player of the Year: 2008
Tom Weiskopf
Country: United States
Born: November 9, 1942
Died: August 20, 2022
Category: Male Competitor
Official Victories: 18 (16 on PGA TOUR)
Majors/THE PLAYERS:
- 1973 Open Championship
Additional Career Highlights:
- Ryder Cup: 1973, 1975
Johnny Farrell
Country: United States
Born: April 1, 1901
Died: June 14, 1988
Category: Male Competitor
Official Victories: 22 (all on PGA TOUR)
Majors/THE PLAYERS:
- 1928 U.S. Open Additional
Career Highlights:
- Ryder Cup: 1927, 1929, 1931
Jim Furyk
Country: United States
Born: May 12, 1970
Category: Male Competitor
Official Victories: 18 (17 on PGA TOUR)
Majors/THE PLAYERS:
- 2003 U.S. Open
Additional Career Highlights:
- 2010 FedEx Cup Champion
- Ryder Cup: 1997, 1999, 200, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018 (Captain)
- Presidents Cup: 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011
- World Cup: 2003
Major Awards:
- 2010 PGA TOUR Player of the Year
- 2016 Payne Stewart Award
- 2006 Vardon Trophy
Dottie Pepper
Country: United States
Born: August 17, 1965
Category: Female Competitor
Official Victories: 17
Majors:
- 1992 Kraft Nabisco Championship
- 1999 Kraft Nabisco Championship
Additional Career Highlights:
- 1 Victory on JLPGA
- Solheim Cup: 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2013 (Vice-Captain)
Major Awards:
- 1992 LPGA Player of the Year
- 1992 LPGA Vare Trophy
- 1992 Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the Year
Sandra Palmer
Country: United States
Born: March 10, 1943
Category: Female Competitor
Official Victories: 21
Majors:
- 1972 Titleholders Championship
- 1975 U.S. Women’s Open
Additional Career Highlights:
- 2 Victories on JLPGA
Major Awards:
- 1975 LPGA Player of the Year
- 1975 Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the Year
Beverly Hanson
Country: United States
Born: December 5, 1924
Died: April 12, 2014
Category: Female Competitor
Official Victories: 17
Majors:
- 1955 LPGA Championship
- 1956 Women’s Western Open
- 1958 Titleholders Championship
Additional Career Highlights:
- 1950 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion
Cristie Kerr
Country: United States
Born: October 12, 1977
Category: Female Competitor
Official Victories: 20
Majors:
- 2007 US Women’s Open
- 2010 Women’s PGA Championship
Additional Career Highlights:
- 1 Victory on Ladies European Tour
- Solheim Cup: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017
- International Crown: 2014, 2016, 2018
Major Awards:
- 2006 LPGA Komen Award
Peter Dawson
Country: United Kingdom
Born: May 9, 1950
Category: Contributor – Administrator Career
Highlights:
- Served as Chief Executive of The R&A and Secretary of The R&A Golf Club of St Andrews for 16 years
- Credited with opening new markets for the game and enhancing the status of The Open Championship
- Served as a key figure in securing golf ’s return to the Olympics as Joint Secretary of International Golf Federation
- Led efforts to conduct vote allowing women to become members of the Royal & Ancient
Other Accomplishments:
- Received the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s Old Tom Morris Award
- Awarded the PGA of America’s Distinguished Service Award
- Received Donald Ross Award from the American Society of Golf Course Architects
Butch Harmon
Country: United States
Born: August 28, 1943
Category: Contributor – Instructor
Career Highlights:
- Served as swing coach to Tiger Woods from 1993 to 2004, during which time Woods won three U.S. Amateur championships, 40 PGA TOUR titles, and 8 Major Championships
- Coached Phil Mickelson from 2007 to 2015 during which time Mickelson captured the 2010 Masters and 2013 Open Championship
- Coached Major Winners Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Steve Elkington, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Fred Couples, Darren Clarke, Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard, Jimmy Walker, Gary Woodland, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, and Danielle Kang.
- Brought Greg Norman (331 weeks), Tiger Woods (683) and Dustin Johnson (139) to number one in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Other Accomplishments:
- Named the No. 1 instructor in every Golf Digest 50 Best Teachers in America survey since 2001
Jay Sigel
Country: United States
Born: November 13, 1943
Category: Contributor – Amateur
Career Highlights:
- Won 27 total amateur events
- US Amateur – 1982, 1983
- British Amateur – 1979
- US Mid – Amateur – 1983, 1985, 1987
- Participated in 9 Walker Cups
- Only player to win the US Amateur and US Mid-Amateur in the same year
Other Accomplishments:
- 1984 Bob Jones Award
Seven Remaining Co-Founders of the LPGA
- Alice Bauer
- Bettye Danoff
- Helen Detweiler
- Helen Hicks
- Opal Hill
- Shirley Spork
- Sally Sessions
The LPGA was founded in 1950 by 13 original LPGA players. Six of those founders are currently in the World Golf Hall of Fame:
• Patty Berg (1974 Inductee)
• Marlene Bauer Hagge (2022 Inductee)
• Louise Suggs (1979 Inductee)
• Babe Zaharias (1974 Inductee)
• Marilynn Smith (2006 Inductee)
• Betty Jameson (1998 Inductee)